Essex ladies lost their top flight status at the LTA County Week by just one rubber.
The team -- which included Basildon's Helen Crook and Billericay's Carla Bell -- were relegated from Division One at Eastbourne, Sussex.
Pat Wire's team will be joined in Division Two next year by Leicestershire, who finished bottom of the six-strong group without a win.
Essex's men had a mixed tournament but maintained their Division Two status at Felixtowe, Suffolk.
Westcliff Hardcourt players Simon Bonham and Richard Barham played in every match over the five-day event.
RESULTS Ladies: Essex 5, Sussex 4; Surrey 8, Essex 1; Essex 5, Leicestershire 4; Warwickshire 7, Essex 2; Essex 3, South Wales 5.
Men: Essex 5, Cornwall 4; Buckinghamshire 5, Essex 4; Essex 3, Hertfordshire 6; Essex 3, Cheshire 6; Dorset 0, Essex 9.
Published Thursday July 29, 2004
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